Alabama State Theatre To Open

October 11, 1985|Chicago Tribune

Cultural, civic, business and academic leaders in Alabama have joined forces to create a $21.5 million State Theatre.

The 97,000-square-foot theater complex, to open in Montgomery in December, will be the permanent home of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, billed as ``the only professional, classical repertory theater in the Southeast.``

The post-modern edifice, designed by Tom Blount and reflecting Renaissance stage design, will have two theaters, two rehearsal halls (one equipped with a recording studio), the latest video equipment and costume, scenery and properties workshops.

To make all this possible, Shakespeare Festival directors put together a high-powered coalition of support, including a $21 million construction grant from benefactors Winton and Carolyn Blount, $750,000 from the State of Alabama, $200,000 from the City of Montgomery, $300,000 from area businessmen and a pledge for $200,000 annually from regional corporations.

(BU)

A Chorus Line won`t be in movie theaters until Christmas, but the merchandising of the film is about to commence.

Brandywine of California is coming out with Chorus Line dance and warm- up clothes that will begin turning up in J.C. Penney, K mart and Bullock`s stores in October. A company spokesman says none of the items actually appears in the film, but they`re similar.

Also on the way are Chorus Line neckwear, aerobic dance shoes and porcelain plates. And Embassy Pictures, which is producing the film, says it`s considering such tie-ins as glasses, music boxes and formalwear.